"Acceptance doesn't mean resignation; it means understanding that something is what it is and that there's got to be a way through it." — Michael J. Fox

A week or so had passed since Elena had shut off her emotions, and everyone fell back into routine. Well, almost everyone. Caroline got back on track with school. She even managed to cut calling Tyler down to once a day. Elena became someone completely different. She was feeding from innocent people and not caring about who she hurt in the process. Stefan and Damon were fixated on finding the cure for her, now more than ever.

Then there was me. Struggling just to breathe and keep my head above water. The full moon had come and gone and the transition was just as harrowing and painful as the first. I took myself to Tyler's family cellar, just like the first time. I chained myself up, and drank the wolvesbane, just like he told me too. It burned my insides until I was sick and screaming in agony. I was just thankful that I was somewhere no one would hear me scream. The whole process took longer than the first time. The bone breaking and body contorting was excruciating. When I woke the next afternoon, laying on the gravel with nothing but torn clothes and cut up skin. I realised that I was completely alone.

I wasn't one to complain, but deep down, I hoped that someone would have remembered and would have come for me the next day. To make sure I was alright. Anything.

I walked home later that afternoon once I could muster up the strength to move. Caroline and mom were out when I arrived back, so I had the whole place to myself. I basked in the tub for a good few hours. Soaking my aching muscles and torn skin that refused to heal. I wrapped my wounds in bandages once I was out of the bath and changed into something loose and comfortable before I crawled into my bed for the rest of the day.

Caroline returned late last night and we chatted briefly. Not once did she ask me about the night before. Nor did she realise that I was on the brink of tears with each movement I made. All she could talk about was Elena and how she was doing. I was brief in my responses to her, hoping that she would just leave me alone and I could curl up once more.

That brings me to the present. Twelve hours later.

After my morning shower, I re-wrapped my wounds and looked at myself in the mirror. I looked drained. I needed more time to heal, but I couldn't miss more school, I was already worried that I was falling behind. I changed into a long-sleeved top to hide the bandage on my arm. The one on my thigh was easy to hide under my jeans. No one would be able to see that one at all.

Caroline was eager to get to the Salvatore house as they had the only supply of water in the town that wasn't laced with vervain. So once I had something to eat, we set off together.

Once we arrived at the Salvatore Boarding House, Caroline jumped out of the car and jogged up the stairs as I parked. I followed her inside shortly after, pulling at my bandage as I did so. I made sure the bandage was covered as I removed my jacket and took a seat on the sofa in the living room. After a few moments, I wandered up the stairs to see what was going on. As I walk down the hallway, I ended up in Damon's room as he and Stefan chatted between themselves.

"So that's the plan?" Damon snorted, "You're gonna take her back to school?"

Stefan shrugged, "Well, the fun route didn't exactly pay off, did it?"

"I don't know. Got a free meal out of it." Damon smirked wickedly.

"Look, do you think I want to go to school and play chaperone? You can't go because you're not a student. Besides, you've got to go look for Katherine. I mean, Elena needed this cure now more than ever."

Of course. Elena.

I cleared my throat, making myself known as they both turned around and eyed me.

"What are you doing here?" Damon frowned.

"Your house is the only place in town with clean water." I informed him, "Caroline's taking full advantage of that one."

"Oh, yeah. The mayor put vervain in the water supply." He clicked his tongue, "So many people to kill."

"Yeah," I sighed, "She actually said it's about to get a lot worse. She could maybe do with your help."

Stefan shot Damon a look.

He groaned, "Fine. I'll go after the psychotic doppelganger. Stefan, you wanna go talk to the sheriff?"

He nodded.

"Blondie, take her to school."

"Do you actually think that's the best idea?" I said, folding my arms carefully.

"Sounds like fun."

During our chat, we failed to notice that Elena had emerged from the shower...completely naked. Damon and Stefan stared at her as I diverted my eyes elsewhere.

"Geez..." I gasped and looked at the ceiling.

"What?" She shrugged, "It's nothing you guys haven't seen before." I looked back towards her through a gap in my fingers as she pulled a towel around her body, and I dropped my hand. "And as for the, uh, 'going to school' idea...I've got nothing better to do."

Stefan cleared his throat and looked at his brother. He nodded understandingly before he walked over to Elena.

"Elena, it would make me very happy if you went to school today. And studied hard - you know, get involved in whatever activities, and please, for me, no matter what, don't eat anyone. Okay?"

Elena vacantly nodded her head before she left the room.

"I still think this isn't a good idea, guys." I said with a long sigh as she walked out of the room.

"If you think of a better one, please, I'm all ears." Damon groaned as he walked past me.

I rolled my eyes before I followed him out of the room and headed back downstairs to wait on Care and Elena to finish getting ready. Once they were set, we were off for an exciting day at school.

I split from Caroline and Elena as we arrived at the school and took myself straight to the bathroom. Once I was inside of a stall, I pulled down my trousers and unravelled the bandage on my thigh. It was stained in fresh blood. The friction from my jeans rubbing against it caused the blood to seep through more. Luckily, I brought some back-up bandages for this very reason. Once I was finished wrapping my leg, I left the bathroom and met back up with Caroline in the hallway outside of the bathrooms.

Caroline was finishing up leaving Tyler yet another message on his voicemail as I approached her.

"You know, you're gonna jam up his voicemail if you don't stop." I smiled playfully.

She rolled her eyes, "Well, someone has to keep in touch with him and make sure he knows we're still thinking about him."

I narrowed my eyes, "What's that supposed to mean?"

She grunted, "Nothing."

"Screw you, Caroline." I hissed before I barged past Matt and headed for my class. I ignored his calls coming from behind me as I stormed through the corridors.

I chose to completely scrap school from the agenda today. I wasn't in the mood to sit through endless chatting. Not in the mood I was in, nor the pain that was still coursing through my body.

I returned back to the Salvatore House after walking out of school. I needed to be somewhere quiet, and I knew Stefan and Damon would be elsewhere today. So I had the whole house to myself. As I arrived, I dropped my bag on the sofa along with my jacket and headed straight for the kitchen. I popped open a bottle of wine and took a drink from the bottle as I searched for a glass. Once I had the glass in hand, filled to the brim with wine, I made my way to the library.

I grabbed a book from the shelf and lay on the sofa by the fire. I lay on the sofa, flicking through the book for a few hours until I heard the front door crashing open. I shot to my feet and rushed down the hallway to see Stefan walking in with Elena slung over his right shoulder.

"What happened?" I asked in confused.

He frowned, "What are you doing here? Stefan looked over at me. My flushed complexion and the shakiness of my hand was enough to cause concern. "Are you okay?"

I nodded quickly, "I'm fine," I said with a forced smile, "I just had a bit of an argument with Caroline. Couldn't be bothered being stuck with her at cheer today."

Stefan's eyes narrowed, and I quickly changed the subject.

"What happened to Elena?"

"Ohh," Stefan sighed as he looked at her legs hanging off his shoulder. "She fed from someone at cheer. So I gave her a dose of vervain to get her back here."

"Shit. Is the person okay?"

He nodded, "She will be."

I pointed back to the library, "Is it okay if I still hang here?"

"Yeah, yeah. Of course," He smiled warmly, "Make yourself at home."

"Thanks."

I watched as Stefan carried Elena up the stairs before I retreated back into the library to continue my book. Alcohol and bleeding wounds don't mix at all. I was jittery. Clammy. My hair was sticking to my forehead as I winced at the pain in my leg. As I began to unbutton my trousers to take a look at my leg, yet another bang came from the hallway, startling me.

"Geez!" I groaned and buttoned my trousers again. As I put the book on the coffee table, I frowned as the sound of music was getting louder as I made my way from the library into the hallway. "What the hell?" I looked into the living room in shock as people continued to pour into the room from outside. Boys carried in kegs, along with crates of beer and bottles of booze. I looked to my right as Stefan and Elena came down the stairs. Stefan was just as shocked as I was, but Elena was grinning like a Cheshire cat.

Stefan turned to face her, "So that's what all this texting was about?" He groaned, "You invited all these people over here?"

She shrugged, "You were trying to keep me from joining the party, so...I brought the party here." Elena's smile grew as she looked out into the crowd that continued to grow.

"Great. That's great." Stefan's lips pressed into a fine line as he observed the crowd also.

Once I re-wrapped my wounds in the bathroom for the third time today, I rejoined the party downstairs. I made eye contact with Stefan across the room and pushed through the crowd to join him.

"This is insane." I sighed as people cheered above the music.

"Yeah. It won't last. They'll either drink all the booze and get bored, or, ah, Damon'll come home and kill everyone."

I smiled, "I think Damon killing everyone is the more plausible outcome."

He chuckled lightly.

"Compulsion is out of the equation." I said as we joined the partiers. "They'll all have vervain in their systems."

"Yep."

"So what do we do?"

Stefan shrugged, "Pff, I don't know. Enjoy the party. Keep Elena from butchering Grove Hills' cheerleading squad." Stefan took a bottle from the table and took a large sip from the neck.

"Can't think of anything better to do." I smiled as I took the bottle from his hand and took a sip myself.

"I got here as soon as I could." I turned to my left to see Caroline walking towards us. "Where is she?"

Stefan pointed towards the middle of the room. "Where do you think?"

The three of us looked towards Elena. She was dancing on top of a table, bottle in hand laughing.

"I need a drink," Caroline huffed and walked through the crowd.

"I almost forgot what that looked like." I whispered under my breath once she had left.

"What? Elena smiling?" Stefan frowned.

"What? No." I smiled, "Fun. I mean, look at her. Yes, this is all very bad, but doesn't she make you just want to let go?"

Stefan smiled ruefully, "Well, unfortunately I have this little problem...When I, uh, party too hard, I end up killing people."

I looked up to him and smiled, "Stefan, you're one of the most focused and restrained people I know. I'll give you the metaphorical green light tonight." I took the bottle from his hands once more and took a drink. "You're at a kegger full of hot girls. You're single, and you're, well, you." I flashed him my pearly whites, "Besides, I'll look out for you."

He smiled, "So, what am I supposed to do, just grab some girl, throw her over my shoulder, take her out onto the dance floor?"

I shrugged, "Take your own advice. Have fun, you know? Don't we deserve some fun after all we've been through?"

Stefan's head bobbed up and down as he thought over my words. "Okay."

I gasped loudly as he leaned down and threw me over his shoulder. I was lucky enough that he missed grabbing the inner part of my thigh as he carried me to the dance floor. I laughed, "I didn't mean me!" He ignored me and continued walking through the crowd of partiers with me over his shoulder.

A while later, Stefan and I were dancing together within the crowd of people. And for the first time in a while, I was enjoying myself, and so was he. We danced, chatted, and laughed together. I had almost forgotten about the wound on my leg and arm in the time we spent together. I guess the alcohol and complete ignorance numbed the pain a little.

"Look who finally joined the party." I turned my head to the left as Elena stood beside us. Her face was unreadable.

"Yeah. Why? Are you jealous?" Stefan smirked.

"No." Elena sighed, "That would imply emotions, and we've already established those are useless."

I cleared my throat, "Why don't you dance with us?"

"No. You guys look good together," She smiled with tight-lips, "By all means, Jess, just take him out for a spin. He could use it."

My cheeks burned with intense heat as Elena walked away and Stefan and I looked at each other awkwardly.

What a bitch!

I followed Elena with my gaze as I watched her approach my mom as she came in the front door. The music was far too loud for me to hear anything. I couldn't even hear myself think as I watched their lips moving. I continued to watch them until my eyes widened and my stomach dropped as Elena pinned my mom against the wall. I saw her struggle to breathe as she reached for her gun.

I burst through the crowd and rushed over to them. My fingers laced through the back of Elena's hair as I yanked her back, away from my mom.

"Mom!" I gasped in panic as I looked her over.

She panted heavily, "I'm fine."

I growled deeply as I looked at Elena. My eyes glinted gold as a deep vibration generated from within my chest.

I pounced towards her, but strong arms pulled me back just before I could grab another fistful of her brown locks. "Jessica, calm down."

I struggled against Stefan's grasp. "Calm down?" I'm going to wring her scrawny, little neck!"

Elena grinned gleefully before she whooshed out of the house. Leaving a spinning cup in her wake.

Caroline rushed over to see what had happened as Stefan let go of my arm.

"What the hell happened!?" Care gasped as she looked at the scene before her.

"Elena," I hissed, "She attacked mom."

"What!?"

I nodded my head as the adrenaline was surging through my veins.

"We need to find her," Stefan sighed, "Caroline, can you shut this down. Try and get everyone to clear out."

"Y-yeah. Sure." She said, stuttering as she looked over our mom.

"Jess, come with me." Stefan ordered.

I gave a quick nod of my head before I followed him outside and into the woods.

"Elena!" I called into the dense woodland. "Where the hell has she gone?"

"Right where she wants to be." Stefan sighed, "This is completely calculated. She drew all those people to the house, waited for an opportunity to distract us, and now she's free."

I clapped my hands together. "I can't believe her. I mean, she hurt my mom, Stefan."

I held my head high in the air as I sniffed. Her scent had weakened. I could only get a small hint of her now.

"All right, listen. You search the woods, I'll check the road. If you see her, don't hesitate. Just snap her neck, got it?

I smirked, "Ohh, you don't have to worry about that."

"Okay."

Stefan turned around and walked away, leaving me in the woods as I spun on the spot, trying to triangulate where her scent was coming from.

After a good twenty of so minutes of looking, I found myself in a clearing as I kept searching.

"Elena! Don't make me fight you. I'm stronger than you, and I don't want to hurt you." I called out into the clearing.

Before I could turn around and counter her attack, Elena whooshed out of the treeline and grabbed me by the back of my jacket as she threw me against a large tree, before she forced my body to the ground and climbed on top of me.

"Who's gonna get hurt?"

I growled and threw her off of my body before I rushed to my feet. We stood staring at each other in the clearing. Our chests rising and falling as the adrenaline pumped through our bodies.

"Not bad. Not technically good, but then again, Alaric didn't train you. You were probably too busy fraternising with Klaus."

My eyes narrowed. Elena swung her leg towards me, aiming for my chest but I managed to dodge her. I lunged forwards, aiming for her throat when she reached out and countered my advance, grabbing my own throat. I fought against her grip but she yanked my head forward and our heads collided.

"Ugh!" I groaned as I held my forehead, "This isn't you, Elena! You hurt my mom. How far are you willing to take this whole 'no-humanity', huh?"

"Are you trying to make me feel bad for hurting your mom? Don't you get it? I don't care. I mean, maybe if you were like us, a vampire. You could switch it off as well. Who knows? You might stop whining about how you lost your brother. You wouldn't care anymore." She smirked, "Added bonus: you won't have to feel guilty about all the dirty thoughts you have about Klaus."

"Shut up." I growled.

"Make me."

I swung for her. My fist collided with her jaw as her head snapped to the right, cracking as my knuckles struck her jaw. She laughed wickedly as she composed herself before we broke out into a full fight. Arms were flying through the air, as were legs and pieces of clothing as we tore at each other.

I swung once more, but this time she caught my wrist effortlessly.

"You fight like a girl." Elena goaded as she bent my arm back, and a loud crack echoed throughout the woods, as did a loud yelp from my lips.

"Agh!" I yelled as she forced a branch through my stomach and kicked me down onto my knees. I buckled over as I pulled the branch out and tossed it to the side.

"What was that about you being stronger?" She smirked.

"I don't have to be stronger to kill you."

My eyes melted into pools of yellow as I lunged at her. My jaws snapped as I was inches from her face before I was yanked back and tossed against the tree. Once my vision cleared and my heart rate began to slow down. The scene came into focus.

Elena was thrashing out against Damon's grip as Stefan helped me back to my feet.

"What the hell, Jess!" Stefan snapped. "You almost bit her!"

I pushed him away and stabled myself against the tree as I panted. The adrenaline that was leaving my body was being replaced with copious amounts of pain as I winced in pain. "She tried to kill me!" I yelled back.

"Get her out of here. Go." Stefan instructed his brother as he fought to hold on to Elena.

Stefan made a move to step closer to me but I held up my arm to stop him. "Stay away from me." I warned.

"I want to make sure you're alright." He whispered.

"No!" I yelled once more. "Just-Just leave me the hell alone, Stefan."

"Jess, please." I looked up at him. His eyes were filled with sadness. "Let me help you. You need blood."

"I said, no."

I winced as I pushed myself off the tree and tried to catch my balance.

I took one final look at Stefan before I turned around and headed back towards the Boarding house. I went inside and gathered my bag and jacket from the sofa where I left them earlier and went back to my car. I panted in pain as I turned on the ignition and drove away at a vast speed.

I pulled up into the drive and slowly climbed out of the car and made my way to the door. I chapped it weakly and waited. Not a moment later, someone answered the door with a pleasant smile on their face.

"Miss. Forbes," The housekeeper greeted me, "How lovely it is to see you again."

"I-Is Klaus here?" I asked through broken pants.

"You don't look so well dear." She frowned, "Should I call him down?"

"No," I smiled weakly, "Is he in his study?"

She nodded, "The last time I saw him, dear."

I walked into the foyer and looked at the large staircase that I had to walk up and I instantly regretted not having the housekeeper call him down. I had no choice now, I had to walk up them. When I got to the top of the staircase, I groaned in pain as the blood seeped through my shirt where Elena had stabbed me. The wound on my thigh burned as the bandage rubbed against it as the dry blood scratched at the skin. I turned to face his room as I heard voices coming from within.

Found you.

I hobbled down the hallway and came to a stop outside of his door. As I raised my hand to chap on the slightly ajar door, I froze and dropped my hand back down to my side as my mouth dropped open in shock. There he was. Klaus was on top of the last person I thought I'd see again...Hayley.

Their shirts were laying on the floor. Glasses of wine were sitting beside Hayley as she lay on her back on top of a large table, with Klaus above her as he stared at her half naked body.

A gasp left my lips before I could stop it. Klaus' head shot round to face me, and when our eyes connected, he jumped off Hayley and faced me.

"Jessica..." He whispered with wide eyes.

"Sorry," I mumbled and turned on the spot as I fled the area.

I ignored his calls from behind as I tried my best to get down the stairs quickly. As I reached the bottom stair, I lost my footing and crumpled to the floor in a heap.

"Mr. Mikaelson!" The housekeeper from earlier called up the stairs as she kneeled down at my side. "It's alright, Miss. Forbes." She said in a reassuring tone as she moved the hair from my face. My body began to shake as I clutched the wound on my stomach and winced.

"What happened!?" Klaus' voice echoed throughout the house as he whooshed down the stairs and held my shoulders.

"I-I'm fine," I mumbled and attempted to push him away. "I just need a minute."

"Jessica," Klaus groaned and gripped my arms tightly before he lifted me off the ground and cradled me, "For once, just do as you're told."

I couldn't stop my eyes from rolling at his order, which caused the hybrid to smirk as he carried me into the dimly-lit living area. It glowed in the amber flames from the fire, along with a few candles scattered around the room. Klaus placed me down onto the sofa gently before ordering the housekeeper to fetch some water and a few cloths. She returned moments later and placed the items on the coffee table in front of me.

I refused to meet Klaus' eye as he never stopped staring at me from the moment he carried me in here.

"So, do you want to tell me how you got into such mess, love?"

His voice was low, almost a growl, as he dipped a cloth into some warm water.

I shook my head, "I can take care of myself." I winced the second that my chest rose as I inhaled. I could feel his gaze burning into my skull as he took a seat on the coffee table and reached his arm out towards my face.

I inched back as I felt the wet cloth touch my skin. The blood was dried on the corners of my mouth from my fight with Elena in the woods. It only took one look from Klaus to make me sit still so that he could wipe it away.

"Tell me what happened." He commanded lowly. "Who did this to you?"

"It was a mistake coming here," I whispered, "You should get back to Hayley." There was a slight bitterness to my words as he sniggered and continued wiping my face.

"That was a moment of bad judgement on my part, sweetheart."

I snorted, "You seem to have a lot of those." I stifled a laugh and grasped my stomach, "Agh..."

Klaus pulled his arm back in panic as his eyes softened. "You're hurt worse than you care to let on."

My eyes squeezed shut as I regained my composure, "I-I'll be fine once I rest."

"Tell me why you came here, Jessica. Why did you come to me?"

I looked up at him through hazy-eyes, "I-I didn't know who else to turn to."

He smirked, "Your little friends couldn't help you, no?"

"No." I said sharply. "They're busy dealing with Elena now that she's shut off her humanity. Besides, there's nothing that they could do anyway."

"Ohh," He quipped, "How so?"

"Because I need Tyler." I groaned, "I need my brother, and you've made that impossible."

His eyes narrowed as he got to his feet and poured a glass of bourbon. "So, your problem must be terrible if I was your only option left."

"I'm not healing, Klaus." I panted as another surge of pain shot through my body.

Klaus looked over at me as I winced. "The moon was almost two days ago," He informed me, "You should be fully healed by now, love."

I frowned, "You remembered the moon?"

He smiled warmly as he took his seat back on the coffee table. "I remembered."

I sniggered and rolled my eyes, "You're the only one."

"You're sister?"

My head hung low, "No, she was too busy thinking about Tyler. It must have slipped her mind. Like the rest."

Klaus reached out and took my arm, rolling up my sleeve to reveal the bandage. "Those chains were never going to hold you."

I frowned, "How do you know about the chains?"

He looked at me through his lashes as he held my arm, "Because, little wolf, I was there. On the night of the full moon. I made sure you stayed inside the cellar once you broke free from those flimsy chains."

"You did?"

He nodded his head and began to unravel the bandage. I felt better knowing that I wasn't completely alone that night. Someone was there. He was there.

"Why am I not healing?" I asked as I looked at my arm. "Ohh," The wound that was once there was now gone. The skin had sealed over, leaving a slight pink mark as the scar healed over, too.

"It just takes time. You've only turned two times, love. It takes some getting used to." Klaus said as he rolled my sleeve back down. His hand lingered on my thigh.

I nodded, "That one healed, but..."

"But?"

"The other ones haven't." I said as he met my gaze.

"Show me."

My eyes widened, "I-I can't."

"Why not?"

I smirked, "Because...then I'd need to take my trousers off."

I felt the heat rise to my cheeks as he chuckled softly.

"Jessica, love, It's nothing I haven't seen before."

"That's so besides the point, Klaus." I laughed back as he grinned widely. His white teeth shone under the amber light that enveloped the room. As he raised a brow, I rolled my eyes and got to my feet. "Fine." I grumbled and began to unbutton my jeans. I slid them halfway down my legs, stopping just under my knees as I removed the bandage on my thigh.

Klaus' hand hovered in the air before he lightly traced the tips of his fingers over the broken skin.

I shivered.

"Are you alright, love?" He said lowly.

I nodded, "Y-yeah."

"This might hurt," He said before he yanked something out of the wound.

"Oww!" I yelled and jumped backwards. "What was that for?"

Klaus grinned as he held up a shard of bloodied-glass between his fingers. "This was inside your wound, preventing you from fully healing."

"All that for a shard of glass?" I moaned as I took the shard from him and looked at it closely. "I thought there was something wrong with me."

"No." He replied and took the shard back before tossing it into the fire. "You should heal up fine now." Klaus took an empty glass from the cabinet and walked back over to me as I pulled my trousers back up. "To be safe." He said as he bit into his hand. The blood dripped into the glass as he locked eyes with me.

"You don't have to," I whispered as his eyes flecked gold.

"Think nothing of it," He replied and handed me the glass.

I hesitated briefly before I took the glass from his hand. "Thank you."

He dipped his head.

I knew it was wrong of me to be here, but right now, I felt like I had nowhere else to go.

Once I finished the blood in the glass, I lifted the bottom of my shirt up to see the wound that Elena inflicted on me was beginning to heal over. "Thank god," I smiled and placed the glass onto the table. "Why is it so painful?" I asked and he narrowed his eyes, waiting for me to elaborate further. "Transitioning, I mean. Does it get easier?"

"You're fighting the change, Jessica." Klaus said as he took a sip from his tumbler, "Once you begin to accept it, give into it, it'll get easier."

The uneasiness settled back into the room as we both fell silent.

"I should have called first, instead of just showing up unannounced." I smiled awkwardly and fiddled with the hem of my shirt. "You were clearly busy."

"I told you, lapse in judgement." Klaus reiterated.

"You don't feel anything for her?" I blurted out without prior thinking. "Hayley, I mean."

His eyes narrowed, "Not a thing, Love. She was merely here for informational purposes."

I sniggered, "That's how you extract information? Sticking your tongue down people's throats?"

Klaus smirked and walked closer to me. My breath hitched in my throat as I breathed in his scent.

I shook my head, "Thank you for helping me, but I should go now."

As I turned on the spot to leave, his hand shot out and grasped my wrist tightly, holding me in place. I turned around to face him and shook free from his grasp and glared at him. My heart rate rose and my skin began to burn with intensity. Before I could change my mind, I rushed over to him and slammed my lips against his. Time stopped as old, familiar feelings came bubbling to the surface. I was once again transfixed with the man before me. Completely at his beck-and-call as he snaked his hands around my back.

My hands swept up his torso as I felt the muscles contract under his thin shirt. Our tongues fought for dominance as we basked in each other's being. Klaus leaned down ever-so-slightly and placed his hands on the back of my thighs before he scooped me up and placed me on his waist. My legs crossed behind his back, pulling him closer than physically possible.

The next thing I knew, I was laying flat on my back in his large bed. Klaus hovered over me as my legs still held his waist close to me. I chuckled lightly as he smiled down at me before he ripped off my shirt in one swift movement.

"Klaus!" I growled lowly, "That was one of my favourite shirts."

He laughed, "How many 'favourite' shirts does one really need?"

"That's besides the point," I smiled happily.

Happy.

I was happy being with him. Even though my head was telling me to run and not look back, my heart was screaming the complete opposite. After everything, I just wanted to feel something other than sorrow and pain.

He sucked lightly on my earlobe, causing a soft moan to escape my lips. Klaus effortlessly removed my bra and tossed it across the room. My back arched, and the skin on my stomach burned as he trailed his fingers down my tender flesh. It was clear. I wanted him as much as he wanted me. His touch, his warmth. The taste of his lips as they pressed against my own. The pleasure only grew as he trailed a soft, delicate line of kiss' down my abdomen until he got to my waistband.

He stopped.

I propped myself up on my elbows and looked down at him. He kneeled between my legs, hands placed on my thighs as he looked up at me. His eyes flecked with gold as my own glowed with desire. His chest rose and fell as the tension grew between us.

"Is this what you want, sweetheart?" Klaus asked in a raspy tone.

I took my bottom lip between my teeth and smiled.

Is this what I want? What I really want? At the moment, yes. It's all I want. It's all I desire. The problem of regret I may feel tomorrow is just that. Tomorrow's problem.

"Yes..."

A deep, dominating growl tore from his chest as he yanked me down the bed and pulled my trousers off, tossing them to the floor. Klaus stopped momentarily as he trailed his fingers along the fresh, pink scar on the inside of my thigh. I sat up and cupped his face.

"I'm fine," I whispered reassuringly. My thumb swept across his lips, tugging the bottom one down slightly before I leaned forward and placed a soft kiss on them. His hand shot up to my chest and pushed me back down on the soft mattress. I gasped as his lips recaptured mine, and we were once again battling for dominance. He won, of course, but I put up a worthy fight till the very end. Until I fully gave into him and we became one.

The soft cotton sheets wrapped around my legs, enveloping me like warm clouds as I yawned and stretched my arms above my head. I looked to my left and gazed at Klaus. He looked peaceful as he slept beside me, sprawled out on his stomach with one arm tucked under the pillow and the other gripping onto the sheets. I turned away and held my breath, biting my lip as I hung over the edge of the bed and reached for my bra and underwear. Sliding the straps over my arms and fastening the clasp behind my back was the easy part, slipping my underwear on without moving the bed was the task.

I winced as I arched my back and slid my underwear over my his. Klaus began to stir. I knew making a clean, un-awkward getaway wouldn't have been as easy as I had hoped. I swung my legs over the side of the bed one-by-one and stepped onto the cool wood. I searched for my trousers as I grabbed my torn shirt from the floor.

"Great," I groaned as I held two halves of my shirt in each hand.

"Leaving so soon?" Klaus hummed softly as I pulled on my trousers at the edge of the bed. I felt the weight of the bed shift as he snaked his way closer to me and placed a kiss on my bare back. "You could stay."

I sighed, "I can't." I kept my back to him as I buttoned up my trousers and looked at my torn shirt.

"You can," Klaus replied as he placed a hand on my waist. His other hand moved my hair to the other side as he lowered his lips onto my neck.

I thought about staying. I really did, but I knew I couldn't. I couldn't let myself get snowed under, not again. When I came here, I was driving on anger, adrenaline and sheer sexual desire. I knew if I didn't stand my ground, I'd fall back into the warmth of his vicious cycle. I have a clearer head on my shoulders now. Clear enough to say no.

"Klaus," I whispered and stood from the bed. "I can't. This shouldn't have happened. I shouldn't have come here, I shouldn't have come to you." I watched him recoil at my words. "I...I'm sorry. I just-I'm sorry."

I grabbed my shoes from the bottom of the bed and bolted from the room, not giving him a second glimpse as I sprinted down the grand staircase and out into the comfort of my car. Gripping the steering wheel tightly, I banged my head against the headrest and groaned loudly. "What the hell is wrong with you!?"

I didn't regret what happened. I wanted it. I needed it. I just regret that I got caught up in the moment far too easily. He was enthralling to me. Through all the bad, I could pick out the good I saw. The good that he showed me. As much as I wanted to blame him for what happened, I couldn't. I was completely at fault. It didn't change how I felt about the whole 'Tyler' situation though. It was all just one big mess, and I just made it a whole lot worse.

As I reached into the back seat of my car, I retrieved a top from my gym bag and pulled it on before I pulled my jacket back on. It was almost midnight, and just as I turned the ignition on, I received a text on my phone. It was Matt. He sent me a message asking me to meet him at Tyler's. I frowned at the phone as I wrote him a reply.

I pulled out of Klaus' driveway and headed towards Tyler's.

It took me ten minutes or so before I reached Ty's. When I pulled up into his driveway, I noticed that Caroline pulled in behind me. We both got out of our cars simultaneously and stared at each other.

"Did Matt text you, too?" I asked as I closed the door and approached her.

She nodded, "Yeah. Listen," Caroline sighed as she looked at me. "I'm sorry about how I've treated you the past few days. You were only trying to talk to me and I bit your head off for no reason." Her hand reached out and clasped mine. "Please, forgive me?"

I gave her a tight-lipped smile, "It's behind us now. Let's just forget it, and move on."

Her face lit-up at my words.

My heart was saddened at how, after everything, she still hadn't mentioned the full moon. Klaus was the only one who was there for me. He was the one who made sure I was safe and locked away. None-the-less, it was irrelevant now. Now I just had to get on with it.

"Let's go and see what's so urgent with Matt at this time of night." I said as we headed towards the open door.

I walked over the threshold instantly, but when I noticed that Caroline was no longer behind me, I turned around.

"What are you doing?" I frowned, "Come one."

"I can't!" She groaned, "Matt!?"

"Care, Jess." I turned around as Matt emerged from down the hall.

"Matt, why can't I get inside?" Care asked in confusion.

He looked down at the piece of paper in his hands and shrugged, "Come in."

Caroline crossed the threshold and entered the house. My brows knitted together as we both looked at Matt, dumbfounded.

"What's going on?" I asked.

"Tyler sent me this package in the mail." He answered. Matt reached his hand out and passed the piece of paper to Caroline. "This is for both of you."

Caroline read the sheet of paper first. Her eyes darted back-and-forth across the paper as her lip began to quiver, and her eyes welled up. "He's not coming back." She whispered as she stared at the sheet of paper after she had finished reading it.

"What?" I gasped and snatched the paper from her hands. My eyes widened as I began to read the words on the sheet.

Dear Jess and Care,

I miss you both more than I can put into words, but I know as long as Klaus is alive, I can't come home. He won't stop trying to kill me, and neither of you will stop trying to protect me. Which means the only way to make sure you're safe is for me to go and never come back. I left Matt the deed to the house. It will protect you in ways I can't anymore. I will always love you, Caroline. Jessie, I know it seems like we just got each other, that we just found one another and now that relationship is gone, but it's not. You'll always be my sister, and I will always love you. I'll find my way back to you. To both of you."

My passion filled night with Klaus only made my heartache grow.

I flipped the page over, but there was nothing on the other side. I looked up at Care as her eyes glazed over, and I immediately pulled her into my arms. Caroline burst into tears and buried her face into my neck.

"We'll get him back." I whispered through broken sobs, "I promise."

Matt walked up behind us and opened his arms, wrapping us in his warmth as we held onto each other. We walked into the living room, and Matt left to get us all some alcohol from Tyler's wine cellar. As he did so, I sat on the sofa and crumpled the piece of paper in my hands before I tossed it across the room.

"Where did you go earlier?" Caroline asked and I looked towards her, "Stefan told me about what happened with Elena. He was really worried about you, Jess. We all were. He said that you could barely walk." My heart rate picked up, which she noticed as she frowned. "Jess?"

I shook my head, "It doesn't matter, Care."

"Tell me."

"Just-Just drop it, please."

Her eyes widened, "Tell me you didn't."

I swallowed the lump that formed in my throat. Her burning glare could be felt from miles away. "I had no one else to turn to, Care." I whispered.

"Seriously!?" She yelled and threw her hands in the air, "We were all here, Jess. You could have come to one of us."

"No." I snapped, "I couldn't have, because you were all too busy taking care of Elena to even notice me. To notice that I was in pain. That I was struggling after my shift."

Her eyes softened, "Oh, my god." Caroline sat forward on the sofa and leaned her elbows on her knees. "It was the full moon the other night."

"Yeah," I grumbled, "It was my second transition, and-and I had to go through it alone."

"You should have told me,"

"I shouldn't have to tell you, Caroline!" I yelled louder than anticipated. "You're my sister. You should have known. Tyler was supposed to be there for me, to help me through it. I-I just needed someone there for me. Anyone."

"I am so sorry, Jess." Caroline smiled wearily. "It's just, everything with Tyler, and now Elena, it just slipped from my mind."

I wiped away the fallen tears on my cheek and nodded. "It's fine."

"No," She said and walked over to sit beside me, "It's not 'fine'. I should have been there for you, like you've always been there for me." Care took my hands and gave them a gentle squeeze, "Is that why you went to Klaus'?"

I bit my bottom lip before I answered her, "Sort of. My wounds from that night weren't healing correctly. I thought something was wrong, so I thought he could help me."

"And did he?"

I nodded, "Yeah...he did."

The awkwardness filled the room as we both fell silent. Neither one of us knew what to say next. That was until Caroline sighed heavily.

"After everything he's done, I guess I'm glad he helped you when I couldn't." Caroline smiled. "That doesn't change the fact that Tyler can't come home because of him, Jess. It doesn't make him a 'good' guy."

"I know that, Caroline." I smiled back. "You don't have to worry about Klaus and I. There's nothing between us...not anymore."

After reading Ty's letter, I knew that I couldn't forgive Klaus for what he'd done. No matter what I felt for him inside. I'd just have to find away through it without him.

"You can talk to me, Jessica. Anytime. If you even feel like you want to go back to Klaus. Just come and talk to me instead."

"Deal," I sighed and hugged her tightly.

"I don't know about you, but I could really do with a drink right about now." I laughed lightly as she chuckled.

"Raid the Lockwood's fine wine stash?" Caroline's eyes glinted with mischief.

"Bet you to it!" We turned around on the sofa as Matt re-entered the room, bottles of wine cradled in his arms, along with three glasses. "I guess, they're technically mine now."

"I guess you're right," I laughed as he handed me a bottle. I poured out three glasses and we each took one from the coffee table and raised them in the air.

"To family," Matt grinned.

"To friends." Care smiled along with him.

"To Tyler," I said and clinked my glass against the others.